PGA Tour veteran Charley Hoffman and the Philippines’ Rico Hoey each shot 9-under-par 63 at the Nicklaus Tournament Course on Friday to split the 36-hole lead at The American Express in La Quinta, Calif.
Hoffman and Hoey reached 16-under 128 for the tournament. Justin Lower, Mark Hubbard and Austria’s Sepp Straka are one shot behind; Lower shot a 66 on the Nicklaus course and Hubbard and Straka each posted 64 at the Pete Dye Stadium Course.
Former major winner Jason Day of Australia remained in the mix with a 66 at the Nicklaus course, getting him to 14 under with J.J. Spaun (also 66, Nicklaus).
The tournament’s cut will not arrive until after the third round Saturday. The unique setup sees golfers play one round apiece at the Pete Dye Stadium Course and Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West as well as one at La Quinta Country Club, each of them par-72 layouts. The Stadium Course hosts the final round following a 54-hole cut to the top 65 and ties.
Hoffman, 48, won this tournament in 2007, when it was known as the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, used different golf courses and lasted five rounds instead of four. But he hasn’t won on tour since 2016.
“Three years ago I wasn’t very healthy, and I wasn’t a very good golfer,” Hoffman said. “I feel good right at this second. As I say, (Saturday) morning I could wake up and feel completely different.
“When I’m healthy, the weather’s warm, I feel like I can beat anybody in the world. When it’s cold and my back’s not feeling good, I don’t think I can beat anybody in the world.”
Hoey, 29, is hunting for his first PGA Tour title. Like Hoffman, he carded 10 birdies and one bogey on Friday and soaked in the California desert weather.
Though born in the Philippines, Hoey and his family moved to nearby Rancho Cucamonga soon after and he used to play junior golf in the area.
“For me this is my second year on tour, so I’m still kind of starstruck with a lot of those guys, Hoffman, (Patrick) Cantlay, Rickie (Fowler) and whatnot,” Hoey said. “For me it’s really cool just to put my name out there and just keeping up with them, so that’s all I’m trying to do.”
Hoey cited a few big names that are lurking not far behind him and Hoffman.
Fowler’s 62 at the Nicklaus course was one of the best rounds of the day and propelled him to 13 under, where he was tied with Justin Thomas (64, Nicklaus) and Canadian Nick Taylor (66, La Quinta), last week’s winner at the Sony Open. Cantlay (64, Nicklaus) and Will Zalatoris (66, Nicklaus) reached 12 under.
Fowler sank five birdies on each nine and kept his card bogey-free.
“Good to have the first round out of the way after a bit of time off,” Fowler said. “Haven’t played a whole lot since July, a few tournaments in the fall, and get back at it here. A lot of good stuff at home, and had some good finishes in the fall, so I was just looking to kind of get back and get going from that. So a little rusty (Thursday), but a lot of good stuff (Friday). See if we can just continue riding that from here on out.”
–Field Level Media
